A dryshaver with an adjustable protective sleeve

ABSTRACT

A dryshaver has a rod-shaped housing provided at one end with a shear head which is driven by an electromotor. A protective sleeve surrounds a portion of the housing and can be axially displaced between two positions in one of which it is retracted rearwardly of the shear head and in the other of which it projects forwardly of the shear head to protect the same. An actuator button of a switch for the current supply to the motor is interconnected with the sleeve to prevent the same from being withdrawn off the housing and is displaced in response to shifting of the sleeve to circuit making or breaking.

United States Patent [191 Messinger et al'.'

[ Feb. 26, 1974 Zimmerman, Bremthal; Florian Seitfert, Oberhochstadt,all of Germany [73] Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft, Frankfurt,

Germany [22] Filed: June 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 263,355

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,538,604 Il/l970 Walter 30/34 RPrimaryExaminen-Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-Gary L. SmithAttorney, Agent, or FirmMichael S. Striker 57] ABSTRACT A dryshaver hasa rod-shaped housing provided at one end with a -shear head which isdriven by an electromotor. A protective sleeve surrounds a portion ofthe housing and can be axially displaced between two positions in one ofwhich it is retracted rearwardly of the shear head and in the other ofwhich it projects forwardly of the shear head to'protect the same. Anactuator button of a switch for the current supply to the motor isinterconnected with the sleeve to prevent the same from being withdrawn'off the housing and is displaced in response to shifting of the sleeveto circuit making or breaking.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Feb. 5, 1972 Germany P 22 05 421.3

[52] US. Cl 30/41, 30/43.l, 30/90 [51] Int. Cl B26b 19/38, B26b 19/48[58] Field of Search 30/34 R, 43, 43.1, 90, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,880,504 4/1959 Finn 30/90/3 4 j 1 1 V 5 /Z A DRYSHAVER WITH AN ADJUSTABLE PROTECTIVE SLEEVEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to adryshaver, and more particularly to an electrically operated dryshaverhaving a shear head and protective means for the latter, such as shownin U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,996.

The shear heads of dryshavers are highly susceptible to damage,particularly if they are of. the type in which a very thin flexibleshear foil provided with a great number of holes overlies the cuttingknives of the shear head. It is therefore well known to provideprotective caps which are placed over the shear head when the shaver isnot in use.

In certain types of dryshavers, particularly in those which are not ofgenerally rod-shaped configuration, it is known to provide other typesof protective devices, such as built-in movable covers which may or maynot be hinged. This is possible because these dryshavers have sufficientspace for the incorporation of such devices.

All of the prior-art protective means suffer from certain disadvantages.In particular it will be appreciated that if they are the type that canbe removed from the dryshaver housing, such removal will frequentlyoccur unintentionally and the protective device may then become lost.THe built-in protective device, on the other hand, is relativelyexpensive and, being structurally complicated, susceptible tomalfunction. Moreover, this type of protective device cannot be used (orcan be used only with great difficulty) in dryshavers having arod-shaped configuration, for various reasons which include a lack ofavailable space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of thepresent invention to provide an improved dryshaver construction which isnot possessed of the afore-mentioned disadvantages.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to providean improved dryshaver having protective means which not only reliablyprotects the shear head but also cannot become lost.

An additional object of the invention isto provide such an improveddryshaver which is of simple const'ruction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a dryshaver inwhich the protective means will move away from its position protectingthe shear head and thus expose the same in automatic response toutilisation of the dryshaver for shaving purposes.

ln keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparenthereinafter, the present invention resides in a dryshaver which, brieflystated, comprises a combination including a housing, a shear head on thehousing and adapted for engagement with the skin of the user so as toshave hair from the skin and a drive provided in the housing andoperatively associated with the shear head for driving the same.

The novel feature further comprises a protective sleeve provided on ahousing and movable between at leastan advanced position in which itprojects beyond and protects the shear head and a retracted position inwhich it is retracted from and exposes the shear head for engagement.Means is provided which is operative for arresting the sleeve in atleast the advanced and retracted positions thereof.

The construction according to the present invention affords a dryshaverwhich is simple, compact and easy to use and in which the protectivesleeve moves from its advances position to its retracted position inautomatic response to the dryshaver being placed against the skin of theuser and a shaving pressure being exerted.

The displacement of the sleeve can be effected in any desired manner,for instance by turning in a helical path, but it is currently preferredfor the sleeve to perform a purely linear movement because this permitsthe novel construction to be particularly simple.

The dryshaver may be of circular cross section that is both its housingand the sleeve may have such a configuration. This provides for aparticularly compact construction which is especially desired forbattery operated dryshavers intended for travel purposes. This can befurther enhanced by providing the sleeve with an outer diametercorresponding to the maximum outer diameter of the dryshaver housing aswill become evident subsequently.

The means for arresting the sleeve may be elastically yieldable andengage in appropriate recesses formed in the inner wall of the sleeve.It is particularly advantageous if such means is an actuating member orbutton of a switch which controls the supply of electrical energy to thedrive motor, and which is moved to a position closing the energy supplycircuit in response to displacement of the sleeve to retracted positionand vice versa.

If the housing is of two parts one of which has a lesser outer diameterthan the other and is surrounded by the sleeve with the latter having anouter diameter corresponding to that of the other part, then anelastically yieldable clamp in form of a circlip may be provided whichis pushed onto the lesser-diameter housing portion between the sleeveand the other housing portion when the sleeve is in its advanceposition.

Thisassures reliable retention of the sleeve in its advanced positionand makes possible a lesser spring bias of the pushbutton mentionedabove, so that the sleeve can be particularly easily displaced fromadvanced to a retractive position once the circlip has been removed.Moreover, an unintentional energization of the drive is thus alsoreliably prevented.

The circlip itself may be provided with a brush, that is it may beunitary therewith, or a separate brush may be provided and the circlipmay have holding portions for releasably holding the brush. The purposeof such a brush is to permit cleaning of the shear head to removecut-off beard stubbles therefrom.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specific embodimentwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a simplified view, partly inlongitudinal section, of a dryshaver according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the dryshaver in FIG. 1 but illustrating adifferent operational position;

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of a component of the embodiment in FIGS. 1and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a somewhat differentcomponent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly theembodiment in FIGS. 1-3 it will be seen that the novel dryshaver here isof the generally rod-shaped type. It should be understood, however, thatthe invention can also be incorporated in a dryshaver having a differentconfiguration.

The illustrated dryshaver has a housing of substantially circular crosssection and comprise of a housing portion 1 and an axially adjacenthousing portion 5. The latter has a larger outer diameter than theportion I and there is thus formed at the juncture of the two portions aradial shoulder 15 having an end face 15a whih faces towards the freeend of the housing portion 1.

At this free end of the portion 1 there is mounted a shear head 3 havinga shear foil 4; details of the compoments 3 and 4 need not be givenbecause they are not novel per se.

To protect the shear head 3 and the shear foil 4 thereof there isprovided a protective sleeve 2 which exteriorly surrounds the portion 1of the housing and has an outer diameter corresponding to that of theportion 5. The opposite ends of the sleeve are open and it will be seenthat the sleeve 2 is concentric with the shear head 3 and is axiallydisplaceable in the direction of the double-headed arrow A-B between theadvanced position shown in FIG. 1 in which its projects beyond andprotects the shear foil 4 and the head 3, and the retracted positionshown in FIG. 2 in which the shear foil 4 is exposed for contact withthe skin of a user.

Accommodated in the interior of the portion 5 is a source of electricalenergy, here shown as a battery 6. Reference numeral 7 designates adrive motor having a fragmentarily illustrated output shaft 8 which,although this is not illustrated, will in conventional manner cooperatewith the shear head for driving the same.

A switch 10, diagrammatically illustrated, is also provided and in theusual manner interposed in the electrical circuit connecting the motor 7with the battery 6. A push-button 9 serves, when depressed from theposition shown in FIG. I, to energize the switch and thereby the motor.It is appropriately biased outwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1.The inner surface of the sleeve 2 is provided with the recesses 11 and12 of which the former is deeper than the latter, as seen in radialdirection of the sleeve. The pushbutton 9 engages in the recess 1 1 whenthe sleeve is in the position of FIG. 1, and enters into the recess 12(Le. is inwardly depressed) when the sleeve is displaced axially in FIG.1 to assume the position of FIG. 2. This takes place when the edge face13 of the sleeve is placed against the skin of the user and slight axialpressure is exerted. In response to entry of buttom 9 into the recess 12the switch then becomes energized and starts the motor, and vice versa.In any case, the buttom 9 will prevent the sleeve 2 from unintentionallybecoming separated from the housing.

If desired the construction can be such that when the sleeve 2 is in theprotective position shown in FIG. 1,

there will be a minimum axial spacing 14 between its edge face 13 andthe shear foil 4. Another suitable detent means can be employed for thispurpose or the buttom 9 can be allowed to snap into a hole whichpenetrates the wall of the sleeve 2.

lnterposed between the juxtaposed surface 15a and end face 16 of sleeve2 is a clamp 17, here indicated as a circlip. This is of elasticallyyieldable material, e.g. metal or plastic, and has for instance theconfiguration shown in FIG. 3. When the circlip 17 is pushed onto thehousing portion 1 (see FIG. l)'it prevents displacing of the sleeve 2from the position in FIG. I to the position in FIG. 2. In such a casethe biasing means biasing the button 9 outwardly can be made relativelyweak. To use the shaver it is merely necessary to snap the circlip 17off the housing portion 1. When the shaver is to be put away the circlip17 is snapped back into place, causing displacement of the sleeve 2 tothe position shown in FIG. 1 and effecting de-energization of the motor10.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 it is shown that a brush may be unitary with thecirclip 17, that is bristles 18 may be secured to or embedded in thesame.

FIG. 4 shows that the brush can also be a separate component, hereillustrated with reference numeral 19. In that case the circlip 17a isprovided with holding projections 20 which releasably hold the brush 19so that the latter can be detached for use.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in adryshaver, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

1. In a dryshaver, a combination comprising a housing having acircumferentially extending shoulder; a shear head on said housing andadapted for engagement with the skin of a user to shave hair from theskin; a drive in said housing and operatively associated with said shearhead for driving the same; a protective sleeve on said housing andhaving an axial endface which faces towards said shoulder, said sleevebeing movable between at least an advanced position in which it projectsbeyond and protects said shear head, and a retracted position in whichit is retracted from and exposes said shear head for engagement; andmeans operative for arresting said sleeve in at least said advancedposition thereof, including a resiliently yieldable clip removablysurrounding said housing intermediate said shoulder and said endface.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, said housing having a first andan axially adjacent second position of respectively lesser and greaterouter diameter, said shoulder being provided at the juncture of saidportion and said shear head being provided on said first portion; saidclip being a circlip which surrounds said first portion intermediatesaid shoulder and said endface; and said sleeve surrounding said. firstportion and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of saidsecond portion.

3.,A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing iselongated and bar-shaped, having a free endportion; said shear headbeing provided on said free end-portion and said sleeve being concentricwith said shear head.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said sleeve is mountedon said housing for sliding movement relative to the same and to saidshear head.

5. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said housing and saidsleeve are of circular cross-sectional configuration.

6. A combination as defined in claim 1, said sleeve having an innercircumferential surface provided with at least two recesses; and whereinsaid means comprises resiliently yieldable means adapted to engage inone or the other of said recesses depending upon said sleeve beinglocated in said advanced or in said retracted position.

7. A combination as defined in claim 1, said drive including anelectrical motor and a switch displaceable between a make and a break.condition for respectively energizing and de-energizing said motor; andwherein said means comprises an actuating portion associated with saidswitch for displacing the same to said make condition in response tomovement of said sleeve to retracted position, and to said breakcondition in response to movement of said sleeve to advanced position.

8. A combination as defined in claim 2; further comprising brush meansprovided on said circlip for cleaning of said shear head.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said brush means isunitary with said circlip.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said brush means is adiscrete component; and further comprising holding portions on saidcirclip for removably holding said discrete component to said circlip.

1. In a dryshaver, a combination comprising a housing having acircumferentially extending shoulder; a shear head on said housing andadapted for engagement with the skin of a user to shave hair from theskin; a drive in said housing and operatively associated with said shearhead for driving the same; a protective sleeve on said housing andhaving an axial endface which faces towards said shoulder, said sleevebeing movable between at least an advanced position in which it projectsbeyond and protects said shear head, and a retracted position in whichit is retracted from and exposes said shear head for engagement; andmeans operative for arresting said sleeve in at least said advancedposition thereof, including a resiliently yieldable clip removablysurrounding said housing intermediate said shoulder and said endface. 2.A combination as defined in claim 1, said housing having a first and anaxially adjacent second position of respectively lesser and greaterouter diameter, said shoulder being provided at the juncture of saidportion and said shear head being provided on said first portion; saidclip being a circlip which surrounds said first portion intermediatesaid shoulder and said endface; and said sleeve surrounding said firstportion and having an outer diameter corresponding to that of saidsecond portion.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein saidhousing is elongated and bar-shaped, having a free end-portion; saidshear head being provided on said free end-portion and said sleeve beingconcentric with said shear head.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 2,wherein said sleeve is mounted on said housing for sliding movementrelative to the same and to said shear head.
 5. A combination as definedin claim 2, wherein said housing and said sleeve are of circularcross-sectional configuration.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 1,said sleeve having an inner circumferential surface provided with atleast two recesses; and wherein said means comprises resilientlyyieldable means adapted to engage in one or the other of said recessesdepending upon said sleeve being located in said advanced or in saidretracted position.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 1, said driveincluding an electrical motor and a switch displaceable between a makeand a break condition for respectively energizing and de-energizing saidmotor; and wherein said means comprises an actuating portion associatedwith said switch for displacing the same to said make condition inresponse to movement of said sleeve to retracted position, and to saidbreak condition in response to movement of said sleeve to advancedposition.
 8. A combination as defined in claim 2; further comprisingbrush means provided on said circlip for cleaning of said shear head. 9.A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said brush means is unitarywith said circlip.
 10. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein saidbrush means is a discrete component; and further comprising holdingportions on said circlip for removably holding said discrete componentto said circlip.